Aditi Tandon
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, November 29
Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on Thursday downplayed the incident of getting a photo clicked with Pakistani pro-Khalistan separatist leader Gopal Singh Chawla which was posted by the latter on Facebook and soon went viral.
Downplaying the controversy, Sidhu said, "I got lot of love in Pakistan and everyday thousands of photos were clicked with people. How would I know who is Chawla or who is Cheema among them."
The BJP also attacked Sidhu over the picture. BJP legislator in Delhi Manjinder Singh Sirsa, this morning, posted a series of tweets questioning Sidhu for the frame and asked him whether he cared for India’s sovereignty and Punjab’s peace.
.@capt_amarinder declined to visit Pak bcos Pak supports anti-India & anti-Punjab activities; but his own Minister @sherryontopp goes agnst his wish & gets clickd with Gopal S Chawla; close aide of Hafiz Saeed & anti-India persn
— Manjinder S Sirsa (@mssirsa) November 29, 2018
Wud Captain Sahab sack his irresponsible Minister? pic.twitter.com/EUSb7PK8EJ
Sirsa asked Punjab CM Amarinder Singh whether he would sack Sidhu for the move given Chawla’s open anti-India rants.
“@capt_amarinder declined to visit Pak bcos Pak supports anti-India & anti-Punjab activities; but his own Minister @sherryontopp goes against his wish and gets clicked with Gopal S Chawla, close aide of Hafiz Saeed and anti-India person. Would Captain Sahab sack his irresponsible Minister?” asked Sirsa.
Sirsa earlier said Pakistan was still keeping a double face on the matter.
“@ImranKhanPTI Sahab gives the message of peace in a function where Gopal S Chawla is invited as well. He is close to Hafiz Saeed & openly threatens India of violence.Why invite him in the first place if you have to clarify it later?” Sirsa tweeted.
The BJP leader said: “In fact, Gopal S Chawla is so unwanted a person in Pak that @OfficialDGISPR has issued a clarification tweet portraying his non-closeness with him. But @sherryontopp is proudly getting clicked with Gopal Singh. Has Sidhu got no care for the peace & sovereignty of Punjab & India?”
Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh had declined the Pakistan invite for Kartarpur corridor event, while Sidhu had accepted it.
Sidhu met Khalistani terrorist Gopal Chawla in Pak.What's cooking @RahulGandhi ? 4 days ago Punjab Police exposed Khalistani involvement in Amritsar terrorist attack & yesterday ur Leader met Khalistani terrorist.R u planning to disturb Punjab again like Indra Gandhi ?
— Jeevan Rout (@JibananandaRout) November 29, 2018
Meanwhile, Chawla had also stirred a controversy on Wednesday when he was present at the ground-breaking ceremony of the Kartarpur corridor and was seen shaking hands with Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa.
Indian media taking a myopic view is selectively showing Mr. Gopal Chawla meeting COAS. Army Chief met all guests at the venue irrespective of identity. A peace initiative should not be subjected to propaganda. @IndiaToday pic.twitter.com/NMkQ17PhKn
— Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) November 28, 2018
When asked, a Pakistani official said, Gopal Singh Chawla is a senior leader of Pakistan Sikh Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee (PSGPC), and he was invited to all events involving the Sikh community.
Singh is the general secretary of the PSGPC and is known as a pro-Khalistan voice.
He was seen shaking hands with the Pakistan Army chief. Several other pro-Khalistan leaders were also present at the event.
Sources said Singh was instrumental in denying access to Indian High Commission officials to two gurdwaras in Pakistan a few days back.
The officials had gone to the gurdwaras to meet Indian pilgrims. India had slammed Pakistan for refusing access to the pilgrims.